Bergtor

The Bergtor (Mountain Gate) was one of the twelve city gates in Aachen's outer city wall, which was built between 1300 and 1350. Located in the north of the city, it stood next to the Marienturm and the Bergerschanzturm. Architecturally, the structure consisted of a central section flanked by two semicircular towers. The pointed arch framed a vaulted passageway, while the side facing the city was left smooth. The building had four floors, which served as a guardroom, a gate prison, and living quarters for the gate commander, among other uses. As early as the late 17th century, the wide passage was walled up, leaving the gate to function only as a defensive tower. A drawing from 1790 documents the advanced state of decay the structure had reached by that time.